Driving mechanism for clocks and the like



July 17,1923 I 1,461,739

K. SILBERMANN DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 12,1921 Patented July 17, 1923.

.UNITED STATES KELLMANN SILBERMANN, OF LA CHAUX-IDE-FONDS, SWITZERLAND.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 12, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KELLMANN SLLBER MANN,citizen of the Swiss Republic, residing at La ChauXdeFonds, Switzerland,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanismfor Clocks and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to driving mechanism for clocks and the likeparticularly for clocks that run for considerable periods of time, andwherein considerable power is required for rewinding, for example publicclocks, church clocks, tower clocks and the like.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a drivingmechanism for clocks and the like constructed according to theinvention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof with the cover removed.

Figure 3, a side view of the escapement device drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 4: a side view of the transmission chain drawn to a larger scale.

, Figure 5 is an edge View of a portion of Fig. 41, looking from theleft of that figure, and

Figure 6 a plan view of the part shown in Figure 4. p

The illustrated form of construction shows two sprocket wheels, at, 5,arranged one above the other, the latter one of which isrigidly'connected to the driving shaft 0 of a wheel-train of a clock orthe like. The two sprockets are connected by means of an endless chainor jointed transmission member d. I

On the endless chain or transmission member d, a plurality of carriersor s up ports 6 are provided located at equal distances from each other,each consisting of a pair of outwardly extending links f pivoted attheir inner ends to the chain, and a pair of links 9 each pivoted at oneof their ends to one of the links f, and at their other ends to thechain.

At the upper end of a casing 2', which encloses the parts there issecured an inclined track j, which is in the form of a helix, flattenedat its sides as shown in the plan view Figure 2, and on the track areshown a plurality of rolling weights k, which may take the form. ofballs or rollers, which, as will be understood by reason of their weightSerial No. 444,459.

have the tendency to roll down the track j. The lower end of the trackis open and is so situated that during the movement of the endless chainor transmission member, the carriers or supports 6, pass in closeproximity to said lower open end of the track, a weight 70 being allowedto roll on the respective carrier or support every time a carrier orsupport passes the end of the track, as will hereafter be particularlydescribed. It will be seen that these weights act as the driving poweron the transmission member wheels a, b, so that the latter are set inmotion, and consequently the wheel train of the clock or the like.

In order that the weight will be liberated only at predetern'iinedintervals, an escapement device is provided, actuated by each weight atthe lower sprocket wheel a.

The escapement device comprises two parallel rods Z, m, suspended on twoparallel pivoted levers n, 0.

The le ers are pivoted intermediate their ends and their ends arearticulated to the rods.

The rod m, has a downwardly directed extension that is pivoted at itslower end to a lever p, that is pivoted to the casing at g, and the freeend of which is so located that a weight is, arriving at the lower wheela, and dropping from its rest falls on the le ver 1;.

The upper side of the casing is hinged at 7', for the purpose of placingthe weights on the track and the lower side is also hinged at s, forremoval of the weights. The upper end of rods Z ant. m, are so arrangedthat the end of rod m when in its normal position as shown in full linesFigure 3, projects above the open end of the track j un der the actionof a spring t, and retains the weights thereon whilst the correspondingend of rod Z is located below the track.

It will be understood that by the use of the mechanism according to thepresent in vention a clock may be causedto run for a considerable periodof time, which of course is determined by the number of weights placedon the track. For example, a tower clock, church clock, or the like maybe driven for a year, or even a number of years or more by providing asuitable number of weights on the track, which is a consideration ofimportance in clocks of this nature.

The operation is as follows;

When now a carrier or support 6, carrying a weight, turns around thelower wheel a, the weight slides oil its rest and drops onto the leverp, depressing the latter as shown in dotted lines (Figure 3) whichcauses rod m to be pulled down and its extreme upper end releases aweight from the track j, so that the latter will run on thecorresponding carrier or support 6. Simultaneously with this movementthe rod Z has moved in an upward direction, its upper end entering thetrack behind the escaping weight and retaining the succeeding weights.as soon as the force exerted on lever 12 ceases, by reason of the factthat the weight leaves lever to roll to the storage chamber providedbelow, the parts are returned .to their normal positions under theaction 0]": spring a, permitting the succeeding weights to travel onestepfarther on track y'. The mechanism is then ready for the nextoperation.

This process is repeated until all weights stored on track 7' have beenused.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. Gravity operated driving mechanism for clocks or the like comprisingan inclined track for supporting a. plurality of weights, having itslower end arranged adjacent transmission means adapted to receive anddischarge the weights, means for releasing theweights, which in itsnormal position holds them from movement on the track, consisting of apair of members that are simultaneously moved on the discharge of aweight from the transmission means, one to releasing position and theother to a position to retain the remaining weights on the track,whereby one weight is released and means for returning said members tonormal position.

2. Gravity operated driving mechanism for clocks or the like comprisingan inclined track for supporting a plurality of weights, having itslower end arranged adjacent transmission means adapted to receive anddischarge the weights, means for releasing the weights including amember pivoted intermediate its ends, having an upwardly projectingpartat each end, one of which parts. when the member is in normalposition holds the weights from movement on the track, but which, whensaid member is operated on the discharge of a weight from thetransmission means is moved downwardly to position to release a weightwhilst at the same time the other part is moved upwardly to retain thesucceeding weights, and means for returning the parts to normalposition.

3. Gravity operated driving mechanism for clocks or the like comprisingan inclined track for supporting a plurality of weights, having itslower end arranged adjacent transmission means consisting of an endlessdriving member carrying a plurality of carriers or supports located atequal distances from each other, adapted to receive and discharge theweights, means for releasing the weights, which, in its normal positionholds them from movement on the track, but which is operated on thedischarge of a weight from the transmission means to release anotherweight, and at the same time prevents the succeeding weights from beingreleased, and means for returning said releasing means to normalposition.

4. Gravity operated driving mechanism for clocks or the like comprisingan inclined track for supporting a plurality of weights, having itslower end arranged adjacent transmission means consisting of an endlessdriving member carrying a plurality of carriers or supports located atequal distances from each other, adapted to receive and discharge theweights, means for releasing the weights including a member pivotedintermediate its ends, having an upwardly projecting part at each end,one of which parts, when the member is in normal position holds theweights from movement on the track, but which, when said member isoperated on the discharge of a weight from the transmission means ismoved downwardly to position to release a weight whilst at the same timethe other part is moved upwardly to retain the succeeding weights, andmeans for returning the parts to normal position.

Gravity operated driving mechanism for clocks or the like comprising aninclined track for supporting a plurality of weights, having its lowerend arranged adjacent transmission means adapted to receive anddischarge the weights, means for releasing the weights, which in itsnormal position holds them from movement on the track, consisting of apair of members that are simultaneously moved on the discharge ofv aweight from the transmission means, one to releasing position and theother to a position to retain the remaining weights on the track,whereby one weight is released, and spring means for returning saidmembers to normal position.

6. Gravity operated driving mechanism for clocks or the like comprisingan inclined wardly to position to release a weight, whilst at the sametime the other part is moved upwardly to retain the succeeding weights,and spring means for returning said releasing means to normal position.

7 Gravity operated driving mechanism for clocks or the like comprisingan inclined track for supporting a plurality of weights, having itslower end arranged adjacent transmission means consisting of an endlessdriving member carrying a plurality of carriers or supports located atequal distances from each other, adapted to receive and discharge theweights, means for releasing the weights, which, in its normal positionholds them from movement on the track, but which is operated on thedischarge of a weight from the transmission. means to release anotherweight, and at the same time prevents the succeeding weights from beingreleased, and spring means for returning said releasing means to normalposition,

8. Gravity operated driving mechanism for clocks or the like comprisingan inclined track for supporting a plurality oi weights, having itslower end arranged adjacent transmission means consisting of an endlessdriving member carrying a plurality of carriers or supports located atequal distances from each other adapted to receive and discharge theweights, means for releasing the weights including a member pivotedintermediate its ends, having an upwardly projecting part at each end,one of which parts,

when the member is in normal position holds

